• Our Goals for Child Dedication

• Examples of Child Dedications in the Bible

• A Child Dedication is not Baptism

Child dedications

NEXT Child Dedication is scheduled for March 24!

Child Dedications are a public commitment made by parents. Parents will stand with their children in front of the congregation and make a promise to offer their children to the Lord. It is also a public commitment to dedicate themselves to rearing their child for the glory of God. Parents should regularly attend First Baptist Church, as they will be standing before the congregation who will help support, encourage, and hold them accountable on their parenting journey.

Our goals for Child Dedication are to:

1. Help parents recognize that children are a gift from God.
2. Facilitate the commitment of the parents to raise their child(ren) in a Christian environment.
3. Challenge parents to be examples in service and worship for their child(ren).
4. Assist parents in laying a firm foundation of learning about God and an example of the power of salvation for their child(ren).

Examples of Child Dedications in the Bible:

1. 1 Samuel 1:2, 10-11, 20, 26-28 – Hannah dedicates Samuel for life to the Lord.
2. Genesis 22:1-16 (Vs. 12) – Abraham offers Isaac.
3. Luke 2:21-24 – As a baby, Jesus’ parents dedicated Him in the Temple.

A Child Dedication is not Baptism:

1. We typically do not baptize children until around the age of 10, when they can articulate their understanding and belief in the gospel.
2. Any child under that age can be included in the dedication.
3. Child Dedication is not a sacrament of any kind.
4. Child Dedication does not impart salvation to the child.
5. Dedication is the commitment of the parents, to God, to raise the child in His ways.